*Originally posted on the EVE Online forums on February 2nd, 2007*
Apocrypha (from the Greek word απόκρυφα meaning “those having been hidden away”) are texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned.
Amann walked through the halls of the Temple unchallenged. His half-brother, Mallaeus, had arranged this meeting. ‘Where are you, brother?’ Amann thought as he walked.
It had been months since he disappeared. An imposter had briefly travelled the Void in his stead, but Amann had quickly disposed of him. Now, he walked these halls, hidden within the crust of Oris. Monks whispered as he passed, their visages hidden by crimson hoods. Strange symbols adorned the walls, only a few of which Amann recognized.
The message had been short. A location, and the word “Apocrypha”. Signed by none other than Mallaeus Dragonis.
One of the monks approached Amann. “The Annointed One seeks your counsel, Brother.” Amann recognized the voice… barely. It was raspier, quieter. Amann was startled, but kept his composure. “Take me to him, Mal.”
Amann followed his brother through the halls. Candles burned along the path as well as incense. Amann began to understand what the writing was on the walls. They were equations. He recognized one as a market analysis tool. Another was used in political analysis. His older sister had studied political science in Gallante space, and on a visit home she had tried to teach him some of these very same equations. She had later decided to travel to Amarr space to become a pod pilot for the Amarr Navy.
She had been dead for 10 years. Mallaeus took her death hard. That is why he became a pod pilot…
It didn’t make sense. Why was he here? Why had he turned from his path?
A decaying wooden door lay before them. Amann stopped, and watched as Mallaeus opened the wooden door. A white-robed man sat in front of what looked like an old computer terminal. The man rose, and turned. “Come in, Amann. I have been expecting you. You have arrived precisely when I predicted.”
Amann looked at the man with apprehension. He had extensive implants, mostly neural mnemonic enhancements, old but still very powerful. The sensors built into Amann’s armor confirmed this. He also detected a wireless data link, an older version than he had ever seen. In fact, there were multiple links. Encrypted, and firewalled.
“The Order your brother served is no more, Amann. You know this,” the robed man said, “is it any surprise that he would seek a new path… even one as heretical as ours?”
“I do not recognize you, or this place.” Amann was lying. On mount Karris he had seen ruins similar to this. He had an inkling of who this might be. “Who are you? What is your Order?”
“We are the Mind of God,” the man said as he spread his arms, “we see the coming darkness. You and your brother shall play your roles… wether you listen to me or not.”
“This is heresy.” Amann grabbed Mallaeus. “We are leaving. I will not be corrupted by your drivel.” Amann pulled out his pistol, and the blue-white bolt sliced through the heretic.
As the man fell, Mallaeus reached for Amann’s pistol. With strength Amann never knew his brother had, Mallaeus pried the pistol from his hands.
“No!” Amann cried as Mallaeus put the gun into his mouth and pulled the trigger. The corpse fell to the ground, lifeless.
The white robed Heretic lay dying, but he kept speaking. “Our Great Founder predicted this centuries ago, Amann. As he predicted the darkness to come.” He spat out blood and continued talking as Amann pulled the gun from his brother’s lifeless hands. “You shall succeed where Mallaeus failed. Do not turn your back on Amarr. Protect her. Guide her.”
Then the Heretic said something that would change Amann’s life.
“The Apocrypha. The book you found in Mount Karris… do not turn your back on it.” The man’s eyes started to glaze over. “By Fire, Tome and Sword you shall bare the Light of God through Darkness to come.”
Amann lowered the gun. “How do you know that phrase…” Amann’s resolve returned and he raised the gun. “No… you would pervert my faith.”
He pulled the trigger, and in a flash of light ended the Heretic.
The questions raised, though, would be harder to quell.
***
Amann stood in front of the analysis tank, and frowned. “So you’re saying the brain damage is irrevocable?” He turned to the Intaki slave, hard-wired into a science station. The man was enhanced with countless cybernetics, barely even human anymore. Behavioral modifiers made him completely loyal to the Karris family, and in particular to Amann and his brother.
“Yes. Do not lose hope, young master.” It’s head (the Intaki could scarcely be called anything but “it”), pointed to the supercomputer taking up the entire southern wall of the room. “Mallaeus’ neural patterns were stored here prior to his disappearance.” It smiled a twisted, synthetic smile. “With your permission, we could implant the previous memories into a new clone. It would be HIGHLY illegal though…” It snickered at the comment, obviously knowing his Master’s response before he voiced it.
“No. let my brother finally rest in peace.” His voice was soft as he turned around. Amann’s mind was on other things, but this was still important. Vitally important. “Tell me, Canus… have my clones been imprinted yet?”
“Yes Master, Mistress Indira’s orders were quite specific.” It smiled. “Of course, your… modifications… were implimented prior to primary implantation, so they are now loyal to Karris through their loyalty to you.”
Amann smiled. “Mother will be quite surprised when her ‘loyal’ guards turn on her.” Amann smiled, touching the tank in front of him. “And her new clone body?”
“She is as of yet unaware of the tampering, young Master.” Another devilish grin crossed his face. “I did include the weakness you asked for, as well as a ’surprise’ that you will find quite usefull.” It pulled up the gene analysis onto the northern projection wall. “As you can see, the genome was altered so that her favorite spiced wine will cause a very intense allergic reaction.”
Amann studied the analysis for a long time. “Canus… what is that?” Amann pointed to an equation in one of the analysis windows. “I have seen that somewhere…” Amann’s eyes narrowed as he remembered where.
“It is an algorithmic analysis… not a very important one.” Canus focused his attention on a screen that had begun blinking. “Master Karris, I have identified a change in your brother’s neural pathways. It is as you said.”
Turning, Amann frowned. “Are you certain?” He took a few quick steps closer to Canus, and looked at the screen.
“Yes, Master, there can be no mistaking the results.” Canus pointed once again to the large screen.
“Upload this data directly to Mistress Riana’s pod, as well as Mistress Chibi’s. The Kenjin, Karris and Godschild families need to be united.” Amann registered the time as he walked towards the door.
“Where are you headed to, Master?” Canus asked.
Amann looked down at the old book in his hand that he had been carrying all day. It was a copy, not an original, but it had been preserved wonderfully despite it’s great age. The few pages he had looked at he didn’t fully understand, but he knew who he would need to see to confirm his theories.
“To do some reading, Canus, and to see an old friend.” With that, he walked out of the door.
Nikilaiki Ruutarhara